Apparatus for treating and dressing flax and other fibers.



No. 889,678. PATBNTED'DEO. 25, 1906. A. L. J. TAIT.

APPARATUS FDR TREATING AND DRESSING FLAX AND OTHER FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED F2121. 1905 G. Qua/q PATENTED DEG. v25, 1906.

A. L. J. TAIT. APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND DRESSING FLAX AND OTHERFIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.21, 1905.

m: mmms PETERS :0 WASHINGTON. arc

PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

A. L. J. TAIT. APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND DRESSING FLAX AND OTHERFIBERS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 21. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

War/r54 ms NORRIS PETERS co., wAsuma-rorv, p. u

E STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND DRESSING FLAX AND OTHER FIBERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

Application fil d February 21, 1905. Serial No. 246,786.

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, ALFRED LAUNCELOT JAMESTAIT, inventor, of 1 Balniain street, Richmond, in the State ofVictoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new anduseful Apparatus for Treating and Dressing Flax and other Fibers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention provides improved apparatus for treating and dressing suchfibers as flax and the like, and is especially adapted for that class offlax known as New Zealand flax, (Phormium temwc.) WV hen treating thelatter flax, the green bulk flax or envelop is removed from the fiber bymeans of any suitable stripping apparatus. It is then subjected tosqueezing-rollers with water or liquid, and is next treated, whennecessary, in a wet scutching apparatus and then dried, and finallypassed through a dry scutcher, emerging in a finished state.

By the use of my invention a considerable saving of labor is effected inthe process of treating and dressing flax.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1is a longitudinal section through the stripping appara tus and thesqueezing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of stripper, taken online a, a. 3 is a side elevation of the wet and dry scutching apparatus.Fig. 4 is a plan of the apparatus shown on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan ofthe stripper and squeezing apparatus. Fig. 6 is a cross-section throughthe wet scutcher, taken on line I) I) of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an end viewof means for conveying the fiber onto the scutchers. Fig. 8 is a detailside view of chain-carrying rubbers. Fig. 9 is plan of parts shown inFig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail side viewof the chain-carrying brushes.

In the drawings, 1 2 represent two pairs of rollers that are supportedon the machineframe. The top rollers are fluted, that of the first pairof rollers being preferably fluted annularly and that below itsmooth-faced, and those of the second pair being each fluted laterally.These rollers are set on spindles. I provide a feed-plate 4 in front ofthe rollers and a revolving toothed wheel 5 at back of same, and whichis arranged to strike a plate 6, set beneath the rollers upon a cushion7, of rubber, that is supported on a sliding block 8, that is in turnmounted on a fixed block 9, supported by the frame 3. The plate 6 has abevel edge that engages with the wheel 5, and it is arranged to slide.Pins 10 on the side block 8 project into guide-slot 11 in the plate forthis purpose.

The slide-block is made adjustable by means of screw-rods 12, that passthrough the fixed block and have heads that lie in a bracket 14,attached to the slide-block. A spring 15 keeps the slide-plate 6 in itsfor ward position.

The green covering or envelop is separated from the fibrous portion bypassing between the rollers 1 2. This partly divides the leaflengthwise, then crosswise, and thereby a lighter stripping-blow isrequired. The leaf is carried forward to meet the revolving wheel 5, theteeth of which strike the slide-plate 6, giving a rubbing blow to thefiber, the blow being light or heavy, according to the adjustment of thescrews 12. The fiber thence passes on to the endless copper band 18,that is carried by rollers 19 19*, supported by the frame, and the fiberconveyed by the band between a number of squeezing-rollers 20, set inpairs one over another in a chamber 21, that has a supply-pipe 22,provided with a controlling-cock 29 for water leading from a tank (notshown) set above the rollers and arranged to allow the water to pourshowers on the flax or fiber. The water falls from the passing fiberinto the draining-tank 23 beneath the roller with a lead-away pipe forthe drainage. The top roller of each alternate pair of rollers iscorrugated armularly or fluted laterally. The fiber after being treatedwith the series of squeezing-rollers passes out and on to the finishingor scutching apparatus, where the flax is separated from the stalk.

The means for driving the apparatus consists of a pulley 61, set on thetoothed-wheel shaft 62, and this shaft carries a sprocketwheel 63, thatis connected by a chain 63 with a sprocket-wheel 64 on a short shaft.This shaft carries a small spur-wheel 65, that gears with a cog-wheel 66on the spindle of roller 2. By this means motion is given to the roller2 and is thence transmitted by sprocketwheels 67 and chain 67 to theroller 1.

Motion is given to the endless band by a sprocket-wheel 68, thatconnects by a chain 69 with a sprocket 70 on the spindle of theleading-roller 19 Means are provided for conveying the fiber from thesqueezing-rollers to the finishing apparatus,which separates the flaxfrom the stalk. This consists of a roller 24, that has its bearings inthe end of lever25 at one side and a link-bar 26 at the other. I providealso a sprocket-chain 27, that passes over sprocket-wheels 28, whosespindles are supported from the frame, said wheels 28 being arranged ina triangle with the base thereof over the roller 31, hereinafter described. The sprocket-chain carries a number of arms or rods 27, and thefiber as it falls from the band 18 and thence onto the roller 24 will bedirected by these rods in its fall to lie across the endless band of thefinishing-machine, to be treated in a manner as hereinafter described.

Motion is given to the lever 25 by a cam on a spindle 71, supported bythe frame. Thus the roller 24 is given a short oscillating movement.Spindle 71 carries a sprocketwheel 72, that is connected by asprocketchain ani wheel 74 with spindle of roller 19. The spindle 7 1carries also a bevel-pinion, (not shown,) gearing with correspondingbevelpinion on cross-shaft 76. The latter carries sprocketwheel 78, thatoperates by chainconnection with sprocket-wheel 79 the spindle 80. Thismechanism gives the necessary motion to the roller 24, carried by thelever, and also actuates the sprocket-chain 27 to give the requiredmotion to the conveyingarms.

The scutching apparatus consists of rollers 31 and 32, that carry anendless copper band 33. These rollers have bearings in a main frame thatsupport the frames 34 35. The band is supported by tables 95. Theseframes support a driving-shaft 37, that carries a driving-pulley 90, anda number of sprocketwheels 38, that are connected by sprocketchains tocorresponding sprocket-wheels 39.

40 40 are parallel spindles having their bearings 1n pivoted dependingbars 41 41 and carrying sprocket-wheels 91 91, which supportsprocket-chains 9.2. The sprocketwheels 39 are secured to either thespindles 40 or 40, as may be most convenient. The pair of spindles 4O40, with their sprocket wheels and chains, are thus capable of beingraised or lowered, and this may be accomplished by means of a lever42,connected to one of the bars 41 of 41. The sprocketchains 92 carryrubbers 93,(see Figs. 8 and. 9,) formed of angle-pieces connected to aflange of the links at intervals along the chain. I provide also agripping-plate 44, that is set across each division of the scutcher tobe operated i. e., raised and lowered-by a lever 43, the opposite end ofthe gripping-plate being supported by a link 81 from cross-bar 94. Thedrawings only show a grippingplate in one compartment of the dryscutcher but it will be understood that I use such a plate in eachcompartment of both the dry and wet scutcher. Above these rubbingappliances is set a tank 36, that is perforated to cause a water-sprayto descend onto the band carrying the flax, and a draining-tank 47 isset beneath the band with an outlet-pipe 48. The wet scutcher has twocompartments which correspond, except that the rubbing appliances areset forward and back in each, re-.

brushes, Fig. 10, instead of the rubbers described. Beyond the frame 35is set a roller 50, between which and the endless band the flax finallyemerges.

An intermittent motion is given to the traveling belt from the mainshaft 37. A sprocket-wheel 51 on this shaft connects by sprocket-chain52 with a sprocket-wheel 53 on a counter-shaft 54. The shaft 54 carriesbevel-pinion 55, gearing with bevel-wheel 56, to which is pivoted a pawl57. This pawl engages with ratchet-wheel 58, set on the spindle ofroller 32. The pawl is held down by spring 59.

The flax or fiber carried by the band 33 will come beneath thearrangement of rubbers in the first compartment of the wet scutcher, therubbers being at this time in their raised position. The gripping-platewill also be in its raised position. As the traveling band is driven theflax will be carried forward to the extent of its travel,which dependson the action of the pawl 57 on the ratchet-wheel 58. The levers 42 43will be operated to close the gripper and the rubbers onto the band andwith the water-spray the flax will be acted on by the rubbers while theband 33 is in a stationary position and while feeding takes place forthe time being. It will be understood that the rubbing devices actduring a period of rest of the band 33. The wheels 56 and 58 are soproportioned that the periods of stopping of the band 33 will besufficient to allow the adjustment and operation of the rubbers for asufficient length of time. On the next movement of the band (thegrippers and rubbers being first raised) the flax will be carriedforward, and so on through first the wet scutcher, next the drying box,and finally the dry scutcher in a finished state.

The endless band is made narrower or wider, as required. Thus if thefiber be fed onto it across the band the said band will require to bemade wider than if the fiber be fed lengthwise onto the band. When thefiber is fed into the machine lengthwise with the band, only one set ofrubbers on a frame is required.

The whole machine or any part thereof may be used with hot liquids inlieu of the cold-water spray hereinbefore mentioned or by a combinationof hot water in one portion, preferably the latter portion of themachine, with the colder water in the earlier part of the saidapparatus.

I have shown a machine for stripping the materia before it is passedthrough the squeezing-rollers; but it will be understood that thismachine forms no part of my invention, as any other machine of thisnature may be substituted therefor.

I claim- 1. In an apparatus of the class described two large rollers anendless band carried thereby, small rollers arranged in pairs betweenthe two large rollers, the upper part of the belt passing between therollers of each pair, nozzles for delivering jets of water onto the beltbetween the pairs of rollers and a tank located below the pairs ofrollers and between the upper and lower portions of the belt and adaptedto receive the water.

2. Means for conveying the flax from the squeezing-rollers to thescutching apparatus comprising a lever carrying a roller at its end anda number of conveying-arms set 011 a sprocket-chain and arranged totravel along the surface of the traveling band of the scutchingapparatus carried by sprocketwheels 28, means for giving motion to thelever, and means for actuating the sprocketwheels substantially as andfor the purposes described.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising an endless travelingband, rubbers arranged to travel on the band and means for raising andlowering the rubbers substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising an endless travelingband carried by rollers mounted on framing and supported on tables,rubbers arranged to travel on the band, means for raising or loweringthe rubbers, a gripping-plate and means for raising and lowering samefrom or to the band substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising an endless travelingband carried by rollers, rubbers carried by sprocket-chains onsprocket-wheels set on spindles pivoted bars carrying said spindles,means for raising and lowering the spindles and means for driving same,means for supplying water or liquid to the band and for draining sameoff substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising an endless travelingband carried by rollers, and supported by tables, rubbers carried bysprocket-chains on sprocketwheels set on spindles pivoted bars carryingthe spindles, means for turning the bars on their pivots, agripping-plate and means for raising and lowering same, a drivingsprocketwheel on one of the spindles, a driving sprocket wheel on anoverhead shaft, and a sprocket chain connecting the drivingsprocket-wheels, means for driving the overhead shaft substantially asand for the purposes described.

ALFRED LAUNGELOT JAMES TAIT.

Witnesses:

CHARLES WILLIAM WADE, JAMES MILLAR.

